Race Reports for Deer Creek Fall Challenge Half Iron Triathlon

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Comments: This is my second time doing this race and I enjoy it. Since the HIM distance starts last pretty much all the other racers have cleared out by the time we finish. This doesn't lend itself to many post race activities, but i'm OK with that. Plus, $100 entry is a deal compared to what WTC and others charge. Overall it's a great way to close out the season!

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Comments: This was my first half ironman distance race. I am very pleased but also know I can cut 30 minutes off with some changes. This was a "racers" race. I was the only first timer. Racers were polite, supportive, and experienced. Will definitely do this race again.

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Comments: The post-race activities were slim compared to what you'd expect at most other HIM's, but it still felt great because this race had a very "family" feel to it, and the race is typically the season finale for triathlon in Ohio. The only downer was that they were out of finisher's medals by the time I crossed the line, so I have to wait for mine to be mailed to me.

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Comments: They ran out of medals. I really don't NEED one but since it may very well be my only half I kinda would have liked one. There were only about 400 people total at the event so it seems like they could have made plans for enough. I had signed up about 8 months before the race so it's not like they didn't know I was coming. I have also been VERY disappointed in the photography at HFP race events. I think they just give a camera to a couple of their workers and say "take some pictures" the first race I was in they had no pictures of me or the guy I race with (not even at the finish line) and at this race they took three photos at the finish line and one on the bike. They got some great pics of several dogs that were hanging around at the venue though.

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Comments: As far as the overall race, they needed more bathrooms and needed to have the distanced correct on the swim and bike. On the bike course there were only police posted at turns, no other volunteers. At my local races I'm used to seeing volunteers and an ambulance or two on the bike course. The first time I got to the bike turnaround out on the course I rode past it because I had my head down and was suprised no one was posted at it. The fact that the only medical personell was at the start of the race was a little concerning. If someone crashed and needed help, they'd have to wait for another rider to reach the police and then for the police to call an ambulance. I'm probably spoiled that my local races are so well run, but I think there should be some more people on the bike course. Overall a well run race though.

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Comments: Great race! No huge expo or finish line activities, but for the cost of the race no one can really complain. If I could get out to Ohio with no problem every year I'd do it...but I also like to try new races, too. I recommend it, it's a good small race and a great course!

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Comments: I had 3 goals entering this race. 1)avoid cardiac arrest. Check. 2)finish the race. Check 3)Finish under 71/2 or 8hrs. Check 6:46.
For my first half, I can't be upset. It's hard to complain about a half that costs less than $100, but the one thing I'm not a fan of is multiple loops. There is nothing quite as disheartening as approaching the finish line and really struggling, only to have to turn around and go do it again lol.

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Comments: HFP ran out of finisher metals, which sucked! After 6 hours of racing I would like to have something to add to my collection. They told my wife they will be mailing out metals to those who did not receive one. I'm keeping them to that.
I'm writing this 3 days after the race and I'm still having stomach/illness issues. My wife was sick and I'm about 3-4 days behind what she had, so I think I started to get sick on race day. Bummer!

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Comments: The best thing about this race is cost. Most half Irons are 5 times as much money to do. There are not the bells and whistles of the branded races but I will take cost savings over frills. The sloppy joes at the end and the life lessons I learned were the highlights.
I wish HFP would do a better job with results

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Comments: It was a really small race and I was worried that being so small would take away from it feeling like a race. Not at all! I enjoyed my time out there and I think this was an awesome race for the price.

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Comments: Plenty of volunteers and police stopping traffic at intersections etc. The race was well organized, food and drink were easily attainable. I was slightly disappointed by the post-race food though... sides and snacks were good, but the "main" course was either PBJ or sloppy joe. Not bad but nothing to write home about.

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Comments: I really didn't plan to run a 70.3 this year but when I saw this race on the calendar I just couldn't pass it up. I met my "easy" goal time by 1:43. My stretch goal was sub 6:30. I think with less wind and getting those 10 minutes back at the end of the bike I could have met that. Pie in the sky goal was sub 6:00. I'm not ready for prime time just yet.
This was my first year competing in triathlons. I finished one sprint, 2 Oly's and a half iron. Overall I'm really pleased with the work I've put in and I now have a good idea of what to work on moving forward. More than anything else, these races keep me motivated to train and stay in shape.

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Comments: HFP puts on a great race. This is my 2nd ever Triathlon so it was good. i did a sprint last year at deer creek and then the HIM this year. So it was good to see where I was at with this distance. I really love this distance so I will be trying to find more races at the 70.3 distance. Now it is time to go back to the drawing board and start working on my limiters over the winter.

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Comments: all in all i am happy with how things went until the run, and am please with the day as a whole. i learned a lot about what i could and could not make my body do, and how far i could push on that day. i led the swim and bike, and had i kept anywhere near the pace would have crossed the line as the 3rd elite.
the longer stuff is slowly getting better:-)
congrats to all that finished on a tough day out there.
on a side note, my swim and bike results came out with 5 min off the swim and added to the bike, overall times matched (swim and bike on here are correct, race results are not).